One year into the global COVID-19 pandemic, much of the global focus is currently going to vaccination rollouts, but treatment options are still limited. However, dexamethasone, an essential medicine which has been around for decades (listed by WHO since 1977) – is one of the few approved treatments for severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients. More than 95% of countries have included dexamethasone in their national essential medicines list, as it is already a widely accepted essential medicine used in a broad range of conditions for its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects.

Systemic corticosteroids such as dexamethasone are low cost, easy to administer, and readily available globally, in contrast to other candidate treatments for COVID-19 that, generally, are expensive, often unlicensed, difficult to obtain and require advanced medical infrastructure.

Recent studies in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine, New England Journal of Medicine, and the European Respiratory Journal all published positive recommendations for the use of dexamethasone as a treatment option for hospitalised patients in combination with respiratory support. In addition, current RECOVERY clinical trial findings state that for patients on ventilators, the treatment was shown to reduce mortality by about one third, and for patients requiring only oxygen, mortality was cut by about one fifth.

How can we support with supplying dexamethasone injection (as well as other essential COVID-19 supplies)?

IDA has dexamethasone injection available for immediate shipment from stock. In the countries where IDA is active, we see that access to the most essential products for the COVID-19 pandemic is lagging behind, while cases of COVID-19 continue to rise. To support these needs, IDA Foundation has expanded its broad portfolio from the early start of the pandemic with essential COVID-19 products. Aside from PPE, diagnostics, oxygen concentrators, this also includes essential medicines, such as dexamethasone. In addition to the continuous supply of COVID-19 related items, we are committed to supporting health organisations in low- and middle-income countries in the vaccine rollout in the coming year, supplying the supporting medical materials and supplies needed for this major challenge.

For more information about including dexamethasone in your order, please contact us.

For further background information on dexamethasone as a treatment option for COVID-19, please see the WHO website.